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The Capitolium of Brixia or the Temple of the Capitoline Triad in Brescia was the main temple in the center of the
The temple was built in AD 73 during the rule of emperor Brescia Museums
entry on Capitolium.
Roman
Roman or Romans most often refers to:
* Rome, the capital city of Italy
* Ancient Rome, Roman civilization from 8th century BC to 5th century AD
*Roman people, the people of ancient Rome
*''Epistle to the Romans'', shortened to ''Romans'', a lett ...
town of Brixia (Brescia
Brescia (, locally ; lmo, link=no, label= Lombard, Brèsa ; lat, Brixia; vec, Bressa) is a city and '' comune'' in the region of Lombardy, Northern Italy. It is situated at the foot of the Alps, a few kilometers from the lakes Garda and Iseo ...
), in Northern Italy
Northern Italy ( it, Italia settentrionale, it, Nord Italia, label=none, it, Alta Italia, label=none or just it, Nord, label=none) is a geographical and cultural region in the northern part of Italy. It consists of eight administrative region ...
, in the modern region of Lombardy
(man), (woman) lmo, lumbard, links=no (man), (woman)
, population_note =
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, demographics_type1 =
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, ...
. It is represented at present by fragmentary ruins, but is part of an archeological site, including a Roman amphitheatre and museum in central Brescia. It forms part of the Longobards in Italy: Places of Power (568–774 A.D.) UNESCO World Heritage Site
A World Heritage Site is a landmark or area with legal protection by an international convention administered by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). World Heritage Sites are designated by UNESCO for ...
inscribed in 2011.
History
The temple was built in AD 73 during the rule of emperor Vespasian
Vespasian (; la, Vespasianus ; 17 November AD 9 – 23/24 June 79) was a Roman emperor who reigned from AD 69 to 79. The fourth and last emperor who reigned in the Year of the Four Emperors, he founded the Flavian dynasty that ruled the Emp ...
. The prominent elevated location and the three identifiable cellae, each with their own polychrome marble floor, all help confirm that this temple would have represented the ''capitolium'' of the town, that is the temple dedicated to the Capitoline Triad
The Capitoline Triad was a group of three deities who were worshipped in ancient Roman religion in an elaborate temple on Rome's Capitoline Hill (Latin ''Capitolium''). It comprised Jupiter, Juno and Minerva. The triad held a central place in th ...
of Jupiter, Juno and Minerva. The Capitolium replaced an earlier set of temples, a "Republican Sanctuary", consisting apparently of four discrete temples that had been erected around 75–90 BC, and refurbished during the reign of Augustus
Caesar Augustus (born Gaius Octavius; 23 September 63 BC – 19 August AD 14), also known as Octavian, was the first Roman emperor; he reigned from 27 BC until his death in AD 14. He is known for being the founder of the Roman Pr ...
.
The three cellae of the capitolium have been rebuilt, and the walls of the left cella are used as a lapidarium
A lapidarium is a place where stone (Latin: ) monuments and fragments of archaeological interest are exhibited.
They can include stone epigraphs; statues; architectural elements such as columns, cornices, and acroterions; bas reliefs, tombsto ...
to display local epigraphs found during the 19th centuries. In front of the cellae are the partially reconstructed remains of a portico, which was composed of Corinthian columns that supported a pediment with a dedication to the emperor Vespasian. The complex, and other Roman ruins are located at one end of Via dei Museii, once the original Decumanus Maximus of Brixia, which coursed some 5 meters below the present street level. Broad stairs rose up to the portico from the Decumanus.
Almost entirely buried by a landslide of the Cidneo Hill, the temple was rediscovered in 1823. Reconstruction was performed soon after by Rodolfo Vantini
Rodolfo Vantini (1792 – 1856) was an Italian architect. He is remembered for his Neoclassical contributions to architecture in his native city of Brescia and in the surrounding regions of northern Italy. His masterpiece is the design of Milan ...
. During excavation in 1826, a bronze statue of a winged Victory was found inside it, likely hidden in late antiquity to preserve it from pillage. Since 2021 the restored statue of the winged Victory is exhibited again in the Capitolium Archeological Area Museum.entry on Capitolium.
See also
* List of Ancient Roman temples *Temple of Jupiter (Pompeii)
The Temple of Jupiter, Capitolium, or Temple of the Capitoline Triad, was a temple in Roman Pompeii, at the north end of its forum. Initially dedicated to Jupiter alone, it was built in the mid-2nd century BC at the same time as the temple of A ...
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Capitolium Brescia Buildings and structures completed in the 1st century Monuments and memorials in Brescia Ancient Roman buildings and structures in Italy Roman sites of Lombardy Temples of Jupiter Capitoline Triad